I started off the morning with some coffee from my favorite mug. Got to love the bee.
I had a great notebook, some cool writing implements, and I was good to go.
I started Day 1 with some bible reading. My bible is highlighted and notated throughout and I spent some time reading through Psalms. I settled on Psalms 103:15
"As for man his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field, the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more."
I smiled. Wait, you say, smiled? That's not the most uplifting verse. It reminded me of my favorite lines from The Iliad. Book 6 starting at line 146
"As in the generation of leaves, so is that of humanity. The wind scatters the leaves on the ground, but the live timber burgeons with leaves again in the season of spring returning. So one generation of men will grow while another dies."
I blogged about this passage last year. As we currently live in the midst of a forest, it touched me. Many leaves have fallen in our time here, many flowers blown away in the wind, yet there is always new growth. I was reminded that whether we are flowers or leave we are all scattered by the wind. If we have done our job (I'm thinking teaching here) part of us lives on. More flowers bloom, the fallen leaves nourish the ground and makes way for the new generation.
It was a beautiful way to start what was a great conference.
Next I spent some time reading through The Latin-Centered Curriculum, first and second editions. We have followed LCC for the last two years of schooling. I spent so much time reading the second edition I've had to tape the cover. Reading through them both again kindled the enthusiasm I have for classical education. Some of the pointers I received from my re-reading the first edition include to give Latin its due, then judge for yourself what is necessary and know how to adapt classical education, not change it.
Multum non multa has been our goal and I was reminded that means:
Next I spent some time reading through The Latin-Centered Curriculum, first and second editions. We have followed LCC for the last two years of schooling. I spent so much time reading the second edition I've had to tape the cover. Reading through them both again kindled the enthusiasm I have for classical education. Some of the pointers I received from my re-reading the first edition include to give Latin its due, then judge for yourself what is necessary and know how to adapt classical education, not change it.
Multum non multa has been our goal and I was reminded that means:
- A limited number of subjects taught in depth
- subjects are taught in relation to one another
- The core readings in English & history (classical, christian, and modern) consist of a few masterpieces studied slowly and in depth
Day 1 stretched out longer than I had thought as I listened to Susan Wise Bauer's lectures. I added a nap time into the schedule to allow my mind to absorb the information. I'd read and heard all these talks before, but with focused attention to them I discerned much more wisdom than before.
This is me at the beginning of day 2. A tad tired and sporting my "Educational Anarchist" t-shirt. Day 2 continued to be exciting as I listened to SWB's Literary Analysis lecture. Again, I got more out of it the second time around.
I spent some time pondering our schooling and what it will look like for the future years. I became re-excited about exploring two-track history and truly applying the multum non multa philosophy. I spent some time clearing and categorizing a few things in my head. Like how to keep LCC at the forefront, while utilizing some of the methods from The Well-Trained Mind, adding my own desires for Z's education, and saving time to explore his passions.
I spent some time pondering our schooling and what it will look like for the future years. I became re-excited about exploring two-track history and truly applying the multum non multa philosophy. I spent some time clearing and categorizing a few things in my head. Like how to keep LCC at the forefront, while utilizing some of the methods from The Well-Trained Mind, adding my own desires for Z's education, and saving time to explore his passions.
I did a lot of pondering while sitting in this chair with the back massager. I think all conferences, homeschool or otherwise, should be held while you sit in comfy chairs receiving a massage. I was fortunate that my biggest distractions were the cat coming to visit and the dog who wanted to share my chair. There are many benefits to holding your own conference, I highly recommend it.
- not missing any of the lecture if you take a potty break
- you can stop to research something right there, no waiting until you back home or to your hotel room. This is why my timing was way off.
- if you're inspired to grab another book from the shelf, it's right there. That happened twice as I tried to reference other source.
- build in nap time. I highly recommend it. Studies have shown that 30 minutes of lying prone can stimulate creativity. On day 1 I napped for 1.5 hours, not sure if that tripled the creativity, but it felt good.
- you only have to hear the lectures you want to hear.
- there is something about going through all the information in a shorter time frame. It held more resonance.
